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Callaway
Gardens Fantasy in Lights, and its 8 Million Lights, Celebrates its 20th
Anniversary
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Priceless Holiday
Memories; Extend the Enjoyment with Overnight Packages Starting at $99
Callaway
Gardens Fantasy in Lights, and its 8 Million Lights, Celebrates its 20th
Anniversary
Pine
Mountain, GA – November 2011 – This holiday season marks the 20th anniversary
of Fantasy in Lights® – named one of the top 48 events in the
world by the Chicago Tribune – at Callaway Gardens, a 13,000-acre
destination south of Atlanta. Fantasy in Lights features 8 million lights
stretching more than five miles, creating 14 larger-than-life holiday scenes.
As the most spectacular holiday light and sound show in the South, Fantasy
in Lights at Callaway Gardens sets Pine Mountain, Ga., ablaze from
November 18 through December 30, 2011. Advance ticket prices range from
$16 to $22 for adults and $8 to $11 for children, with children 5 and younger
always admitted for free.
Visitors
experience the light and sound extravaganza on the “Jolly Trolley” or by
driving through the lighted scenes in their personal vehicle. The sparkling,
animated displays include Snowflake Valley, a winter wonderland
filled with enormous snowflakes and thousands of white lights; Magical
Christmas Garden with a 24-foot wreath entrance; and Santa’s Workshop,
showcasing animated versions of Santa’s elves busy making toys for the
big night. Two “don’t miss” scenes are on Robin Lake Beach and are both
narrated, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity.
They each last about 10 minutes.
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Celebrate
20 years of holiday wonderment with Callaway Gardens Fantasy in Lights,
best
when viewed from the Jolly Trolley. (Photo courtesy of Callaway Gardens)
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Ninety-nine
percent of the frames used to create the scenes in Fantasy in Lights are
custom designed and built just for Callaway Gardens, taking 3,900 man-hours
to install. In keeping with Callaway Gardens’ mission of connecting man
and nature, every kilowatt of power used to light up Fantasy In Lights
is compensated with “green” power. The first destination in the Southeast
to offset 100 percent of its electricity use by purchasing wind power credits.
Families
experience the Christmas Village, a 22,000 square-foot indoor, heated area
featuring opportunities to visit Santa and other holiday characters. Inside
the Village, guests have the opportunity to shop for specialty food items
from the Callaway Gardens Country Store®, unique gifts, nostalgic
toys from simpler times and an assortment of holiday ornaments. An array
of Georgia crafters are on hand making and selling their wares.
The
American Bus Association has again selected Fantasy In Lights at Callaway
Gardens as a “Top 100 Events in North America” for 2011. Fantasy In Lights
also has been recognized numerous times by the Southeast Tourism Society
(STS) as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast and by America’s Best
and Top Ten as one of the Top Three Light Shows in America.
A
variety of Fantasy In Lights overnight packages provide the opportunity
to enjoy Callaway Gardens at a more relaxing pace. Packages start as low
as $99 per night in the Mountain Creek Inn and include:
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Fantasy
In Lights admission
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Accommodations
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Special
Jolly Trolley loading area dedicated for overnight guests
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Admission
to the world-class Gardens and its many attractions including the Day Butterfly
Center, Sibley Horticultural Center, Callaway Discovery Center, live Birds
of Prey Shows, seven miles of nature trails and our 10-mile Discovery Bicycle
Trail.
Additional
package options include breakfast and a 2011 commemorative Fantasy In Lights
ornament.
Calendar
of Event Listing
Callaway
Gardens Celebrates 20 Years of Fantasy in Lights®
Fantasy
in Lights® at Callaway Gardens bedazzles young and old nightly, Nov.
18-Dec 30, continuing a tradition started two decades ago. Families choose
a time (6, 7 or 8 p.m.) and board the fun, interactive “Jolly Trolley”
or take their own car while navigating more than five miles and 14 striking
holiday scenes at the 13,000-acre destination about an hour southwest of
Atlanta and thirty minutes north of Columbus. Take a break from the electrifying
displays and gather round two narrated scenes on Robin Lake Beach, Twas
the Night Before Christmas and The Nativity, each lasting about
10 minutes. Then, unwrap more holiday magic at the Christmas Village, open
daily beginning at 4 p.m., an indoor magical wonderland shopping area with
opportunities to visit Santa Claus and other holiday characters. Check
off all the good folks on your list as you shop for specialty food items
at the Callaway Gardens Country Store®, gather unique gifts, and reminisce
with nostalgic toys from simpler times while divining decorating inspiration
from an assortment of holiday ornaments. An array of Georgia crafters will
be on hand making and selling their wares. Purchase tickets in advance
online or by phone; prices range from $16 (Value Night) to $22 (Prime Night)
for adults and $8 (Value Night) to $11 (Prime Night) for children; children
five and younger are admitted for free but must still have a “free child”
ticket. If purchased on-site, tickets are $25 per adult and $12.50 for
children 6-12; children five and younger are free. See website for the
Fantasy In Lights overnight packages (which include tickets to the light
show) starting at $99 per night on Value Nights and $124 on Prime Nights.
Special military rates available. To experience the most spectacular holiday
light and show in the South, visit www.CallawayGardens.com
or call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292).
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Hi-
and Low-Res Images Available
Media
Contact:
Rachel
Crumbley, 706-663-5187
Callaway
Gardens
www.CallawayGardens.com
About
Callaway Gardens
For
almost 60 years, Callaway Gardens (www.CallawayGardens.com)
has provided “a place of relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding
of the living world” for millions of visitors. Owned and operated by the
non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Callaway Gardens includes a garden,
resort, preserve and residential community on 13,000 acres in Pine Mountain,
Georgia. Highlights include a butterfly conservatory, horticultural center,
discovery center, chapel, inland beach, nature trails and special events
throughout the year.
In
addition, Callaway Gardens offers nearly 80,000 square feet of meeting
space, 763 guest rooms, restaurants, shops, golf, tennis, fishing and more.
Five
unique, close-knit residential communities-with custom home sites, lakefront
properties and cottages on the golf course-offer an ideal home away from
home or full-time residence.
Callaway
Gardens is home to a 4,610-acre forest preserve which is under conservation
easement. This conserved, sustainably-managed land is used for biological
studies and environmental education programs.
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